CVE-2015-5207 in Cordova iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Cordova iOS before 4.0.0 might allow attackers to bypass a URL whitelist protection mechanism in an app and load arbitrary resources by leveraging unspecified methods.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5207 affects Apache Cordova iOS versions prior to 400, representing a critical security flaw in mobile application development frameworks. This issue resides within the URL whitelist protection mechanism that is fundamental to securing mobile applications built using the Cordova platform. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to bypass intended security controls that should prevent applications from loading arbitrary resources from untrusted domains, effectively undermining the core security model of these mobile applications.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified methods that enable attackers to circumvent the whitelist restrictions implemented by Cordova iOS. This bypass mechanism operates at the application runtime level where the framework should enforce strict controls over network requests and resource loading. The vulnerability specifically targets the iOS implementation of Cordova, where the whitelist protection mechanism fails to properly validate or sanitize URL requests that should be restricted by the application's security policy. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and access control enforcement, categorized under CWE-284 Access Control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Cordova iOS applications for mobile deployments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to load malicious content from external domains, potentially leading to data exfiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, or the execution of unauthorized code within the application context. The vulnerability essentially allows for arbitrary resource loading, which can be leveraged to inject malicious scripts or load compromised content that would normally be blocked by the whitelist. This creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges or compromise the integrity of the mobile application environment.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability directly impacts the ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing by enabling attackers to bypass security controls and load malicious content. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, where the application's security boundaries are effectively breached. Organizations using affected versions of Cordova iOS should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to version 400 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the whitelist bypass mechanism. Additional defensive measures may include implementing additional runtime checks, monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns, and conducting thorough security assessments of mobile applications built with Cordova frameworks.
The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security controls in mobile application development environments and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of security mechanisms before deployment. It serves as a reminder that mobile frameworks must implement robust access control and input validation to prevent unauthorized resource loading and maintain application integrity. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions and regular security assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that mobile applications maintain their intended security postures.